Compressor



Nov. 22, 1932.

A. J. KERCHER COMPRESSOR Filed July 18. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet I A TTORNEYS @mettersi feietes genere iy to devices es coriipi"esseresg which ereressiiig or everlasting gases oi' iiuid compressors, the eters toconsider ere cheepn nse of mezeu:ec=.t1i ^e7 oper '1g ileedoiii from.servicing9 and ooeretioii.- iii the roests comu -ie reciprocetiig pistontype connecting rodsy piston pins7 and other *parts which requiredaccurate machining in order to make efficient opere-` tioii possible.,1li. multiplicity et cioseiy me cilined pei-ts not oniy increases thecost oi manufacture, but also metres necessary more frequent servicingwhen. such e compressor is operation. Because of improper beieiiciiig o?the moving parte, such compressors have also been noisy iii operationend subject to much vibrationii especieiiy titer the parte tied become'wereD it is an object of this invention to devise en efficientcompressor beting e, minimum number ci parte end which mey Toe ciieeloiymenuiiectured. v

is s iirther object of this invention to devise e compressor which Wiiioperate prec` ticeiiy eoiseiessiy tout iii which the parte mey betogether 'with coiifipsretiyeiy large toiereiices and Without ecciireteeiiiiemento it is e :further object of this invention to devisecompressor which is provided with inherent ineens whereby the iperts maytoe set into motion with substeiitieiiy tio iiiitiei torque.,

Et is e further object oi this invention to devise e 'machine which Wiiicombine tire infections ot compressor with the tentation of en oidseparator. Y

is another object of this invention yto devise e merci form oimotorcompressor unit which is iiiciosed Witiiiii e seeied tiene Furtherobjects of this intention will ep weer from the foiiowing; descriptionin which i tieve set forth the-preferred embodiment oi my invention. 'itis to ile understood diet the appended claims ere to' Toe accorded srange oi equiveients consistent with the stets oi" the prior et,

to tee merrie-s.

ie i. eeyet'ioiiei View shown cross section, eed iiiustretiiig thelieven tion incorporated with e retrigeretiiig syss sectioiiei Viewteiiem eioiegg .istretiiig e portion f 1g to the drawings, preferredform or 'dus invention which neve ities#1 treted comprises e pair. ofreietiyeiy rettit-a ebie memiiers li end i2, the member il for-mf ing eshaft, White the member i2 forms cyi ieder structure. il preierebiyremains stationery wiiiie .the cylinder struct-.ete i2 is' jouriieiedupon end rotates about the siiett To minimize lfriction the cylinderstructure vi2 heseeeii shot/'ri es jouwe-led by meems of tiie beiibearing assembly i3. The cylinder structure l2 is provided with e,plurality of cyiinder bores i5 which ere erienged substeiitieiiy redieiwith respect to the exis of rotation. iiitiie diewimgs il tieve showntout' r eyiiiider bores? eitiiougii it is obvious titet eiiy number mayice employed depending tipori the capacity oi the compressor desii'edoSiidedoiy fitted Within eecii oi3 the cyiiilder bores i5 there is episton structure i6 which preferably inciudes piston eiement i7, seid ielement comprising e sieeve i8 adapted to t the trellis oi the cyiiiideroores i5, end e piston heed For effecting reciprocetimg movement of thepiston structures, there is provided en actuating member arrangedeccentriceiiy with respect to the exis of rotation oi the cylinder 1%For simplicity this member is preiereioiy iii the of e cyiedrice ring;@i termed as e iigooii e disc 22. Disc 2% is errengedto rotate' eioeiiten exis peraiiei to 1out eccentric with respect to the exis 'et rotationoi cyiiiider striicture 12., and for thi@ urpose i here shown the trailbearing assemiy 2? The initier periphery of the ring 2i ties direct:abetting contact with the piston structures eindA thereby causes thepistons to reciprocate es the cy'iinder structure is ro tete'd about thestationery shaft.; However as en edded feature oif' this invention Ihave provided resilient means cooperating between the inner periphery ofring 21 and each of -the piston elements 17, whereby the piston elementsare rendered inoperable to reciprocate until the cylinder structure hasbeen rotatcdabove a given minimum speed. Thus each piston is providedwith a motion transmittingl member 24 slidably disposed with respect tothe same, this member comprising for example a sleeve 26 slidablydisposed with the sleeve 18 of the corresponding piston, and an endportion 27 adapted to engage the inner periphery of the ring 21.Disposed within the piston structure, there is a compression spring 28,one end of which is seated upon the inner face of the piston head 19,and the other end which is seated upon the inner face of the end portion27. This spring serves to normally urge the piston '17 and the actuatingmembers 24 apart so that when the cylinder structure 12 is stationary'with respect to the shaft 11, the end portion 27 is urged toward theinner periphery of ring 21, while the piston 17 is urged inwardly to.

the limit of its movement in the cylinder bore 15.

As the cylinder structure is rotated, it carries with it the ring 21 andbecause of the eccentric relationship of this ring withthe axis ofrotation of the cylinder structure, the members 24 are caused toreciprocate with respect to the cylinder structure. As long as the speedof rotation is relatively slow, centrifugal force is not suicient tocause the piston elements 1i? to overcome the force of the compressionsprings 28, and for this reason the pistons will remain relativelystationary in their respective cylinder bores.

I As the speed of rotation is increased however, as during starting ofthe compressor, the centrifugal force upon the pistons will alsoincrease until sufficient to overcome the force of compression springs23, and the pistons are then forced outwardly into abutting contact withmotion transmitting members 24, and are thereafter caused to reciprocatetogethere with these members.

l'n order to provide a positive limitto the outward movement of each ofpistons 17, 'l preferably provide these pistons with an inner annularshoulder 29, adapted to be pressed in abuttings contact-with the innerend of sleeve 26. Altho lthe ring 21 is freely rotatable, and istherefore rotated together with 'the cylinder structure 12, a certainamount of relative movement will occur between each 4of the actuatingmembers 24 and the inner peripheral surface of ring 21. ln order tominimize friction which might be caused by such relative movement, 1preferably provide rollers 30 which are journaled upon. the end portions27 of each of the members 24, these rollers serving to provide africtionless' engagement with the ring 21.

The valve mechanism for the compressor is incasso ypreferably formed. asapart of the shaft 11.

'lhus a portion of the shaft which is within the cylinder structure 12,is preferably enlarged to provide a valve portion 31 adapted to snuglyfit the inner bore 32 of the cylinder' structure. Each of the compressorcylinders is provided with a port 33 which is adapted to cooperate witha plurality of passages provided in the valve portion 31, these passagesbeing shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3. llormed'in the periphery ofthe valve portion 31 are the recesses 36 and 37 which form respectivelyintake and discharge ports adapted to register successively with theports 33.v The recess 36 is likewise adapted to communicate with theintake passages 38 which are preferably arranged radially in thecylinder structure 12. Discharge port 37 communicates with passages 39and 41 in the stationary pipe 11 for the discharge of compressed fluid.

'lo explain the operation of the valve mechanism it will be presumedthat the coinpressor is operating at suihcient speed to cause thepistons to reciprocate. Referring now to Fig. 2, and tracing the cycleof operation of the bottom piston, as this piston rotates in acounterclockwise direction about the stationary shaft, it is firstcaused to move outwardly in the cylinder bore, and is placed incommunication with the port 36, which is in communication with one ofthe radial intake passages 38. Gas is then permitted to enter thiscylinder until the piston reaches the limit of its outer movement whichwill be at the position one-half way about the stationary shaft.Completing the remainder of its revolution, communication between port36 and that cylinder will be cut olf and communication will beestablished .with the discharge port 37. The piston will likewise bemoved inwardly to press and force the gas thru ports 33, 37( andpassages 39 and 41.

.tiny convenient means of mounting may be employed for the compressordescribed above, however for certain reasons l prefer to enclose andmount the compressor within a suitable sealed metal housing 42. Thishousing also preferably .encloses an electrical motor 43 which may bedirectly connected to drive the compressor. 1n the particularconstruction shown the housing 42 is formed of two parts, one enclosingthe compressor and the other part 44 forming the housing for the' motor43, these two housing parts being suitably secured together as by meansof cap screws 46. The motor shaft in this instance is secured at itsends to the ends of the housing 42, one end ofthe shaft being providedwith a suitable iitting 47 for making connection with the fluiddischarge passage 41. The other end of shaft 11 is provided with aportion 48 which is extended thru the head of motor housing 44 andprovided at its external end with a suitable cap or removing can and canscrews d6, the motor housing ld may be removed from the remainder oitthe compressor housing to permit repairs to be made to the motor or tothe compressor.

Any standard 'form of electric motor may be employed, altho l refer toutilize a motor having a stator 5l o which the laminations have a ressedor i'orced lit into the inner bore 52 ot tac motor housing lla. rlherotor 53 of the motor is preferably mounted upon a holloup rotatableshalt 5d which is disposed about the stationary sliailt ll. rlhis hollowi journaled asby mee-ns oil the ball bearssembly in and one end ol thesame is ly coupled to drive the compressor cyl? connection 57 Thehousing l2 preferably ilorrns a reservoir 58 for containing oil be usedin lubri l ne the compressor r1Ehe compressor shalt 1 "ovided withpassages `rlor conducting oil to the various bearings and moving parts,and lieu ot the usual pum for carryingthe oil to `these parte., l provie oil reservoir 59 upon inner lace oi the end oil housing 4t2, a" d thisreservoir is adapted to catch a certain amount ci the oil tbrovvn fromthe rotating; ring ill, 'lo provide more positive introduction oi oilinto the reservoir 59, the peripherglv of ring 2i may be provided withone or more splash lugs til adapted to dip into the oil provided inreservoir 58. During operation a is thus thrown trom the ring 2l andpart of the oil Which runs down the inside oit the housing is collectedby reservoir 59 and conducted dovvn thru passageway 62, and thence tothe oil passages (i3 and 6ft in 'the shalt il which lead to the ballbearing assemblies i3 and 5'. Bv means oil an oil duct communicatingwith passage 6? and the ipliery the valve portion ill, oil is profor luloricating the engaging; portions i ve Vportion and the cylinderstrucre7 and also certain amount oi oil is introinto the cylinder boresthru ports 33' to lubricate tlie'pistons, ln tact an excess of lubricantis provided for the 'pistons so that se pistons may have relativelyloose lt Within their cylinder bores vvitliout having excessivelflealage, v

.liv virtue oi the centritugal torce devel- "ooed the' cylinderstructure is in rota- .1 tion, oil is prevented from passing into thedischarge T'iassuggge A4lll and 1s all caused to move outwardlydirection. .lailrevvise because of the radial positioning of the intakepassages 38 and as these passages are rotated, i

centrifuge action is developed upon the uid being; taken into thecompressor which is suiiicient tol eiiect centrifugal separation ol oiltherefrom., "lhis action et the compressor to edect a separation of oilfrom the gas, is valuable in. many instances. For example r assembl l2bv means et the las "when the compressor is utilised in refrigeratingsystem7 as has been illustrated in the drawings, itrmalies it possibleto dispense with an oil separator which is usually provided in additionto the compresson The particular means 'which I have disclosed forintroducing oil into the compressor is of advantage in that it preventsintroduction of oil when the compressor is being rotated at relativelyslovv speed, as in starting or stopping. lt oil `were introduced at thistime the centrifugal action. would not be sumcient to ettect itsseparation trom the gas being pumped. rllas provision ot splash meansvlor introducing oil in the reservoir 59 maires it impossible tor oil tobe introduced when the compressor is initiallyv starting, as the s lasling edect is then insuidcient to throw the oil from the lugs 6l to theinner surfaces oi' housing d2 which are adj scent to the reservoir 59,.

iin many instances itis desirable to entirely suppress even the smallamount of noise and vibration occasioned by operation ont a compressersuch as described above. l have l'ound that this may be accomplished byim.- mersmgH the motor compressor unit in a noncompressible tluid suchas Water or oil. For this purpose l' have shown a metal container t8illed with a suitable non-compressible duid 69 such as Water or oilwhich entirely immerses the housing oft the compressoru 'lllhere thecompressor is utilised in a refrigerating system a suitable condenser 7lmay also be immersed in the liquid 699 and this 'liquid employed forabsorbing the heat from the same. rEhe intake pipe 72 of this conydenser is sbovvn as connected with the hitting di( of the compressor',.and outlet pipe 7? oit with the interior of the housinm 7llheelectrical terminalvvires for the motor may be extended un 'thru thecover 7d, Within a suitable sealed metal conduit 8l. lfor dissipatingheat absorbed by the liquid from the compressor housing and "from thecondenser 7l, the exterior of the container 68 is preterably providedwith a plurality oi cooling tins 82., As additional means tormaintainingtheliquid relatively cool9 pines 83 and 8d may be provided 'lor theintroduction of cool ani the removal of heated liquid. The' introductionof cool liquid may be controlled as by means ot' a valve 86automatically1 actuated in ac cordance with a thermostat 37- vvhich isin thermal contact with the liquid Within the container. Thermostat 87is electrically con- 'nectedto control valve 86 as by means oftheelectrical circuit 88. To minimize transfer of vibration thru themounting of the compressor within the container 68, the compresindisclosed is claimed in my application No.

159,033, filed January 5, i927, altho it may be brieiy explained that inoperation it utilizes a suitable refrigerant fluid such as' sulphurdioxide or ethyl chloride, which is compressed and discharged into thecondenser 71. The condensed liquid refrigerant Vis then permitted toexpand under reduced pressure, in the heat absorber 7 6 and the expandeduuid is then returned to the compressor. 'lll-he valve 86 functions tointroduce cool liquid in accordance with the temperature of the liquidwithin the container. lf the fins, 82 are insucient to carry away theheat absorbed by the liquid, due to high temperature of the surroundingair, then thermostat 87 automatically controls valve 86 to introduceadditional cool liquid.

llt is obvious from-the above description that ll have provided acompressor of .great utility which will be ecient in operation and cheapto manufacture. 'llhe use of the ring 2l dispenses with the necessity ofconnecting rods, cranks and piston pins, and makes the compressor verysimple to assemble in manufacture. rlhis ring can be cheaply constructedas an integral part of the disc 22, by pressing the same from a sheet ofmetal. The use of this ring also makes it possible to have the vpistonsslightly disalined with respect to each other or to the axis ofrotation. rlhus the machining of the parts of the compressor may be doneby automatic machinery Without regard to extreme accuracy, withouthowever sacrificing the eciency of the finished ma ltially remainstationary While the cy inder structure is started intorotation.

ll claim:

1. In a pump the combination of a stationary shaft, a piston andcylindenassembly mounted to rotate about the shaft, an actuatorrotatably mounted eccentrically with respect to the shaft for eHectingreciprocatory movement of the` pistons, a reservoir fro aaeaeco whichoil flows by gravity into the compressor, and means operable uponrotation of said assembly to introduce oil into the reservoir.

2. ln a pump, the combination of a stationary shaft, a piston andcylinder assembly mounted to rotate about the shaft, an actuatorArotatably mounted eccntrica-lly with respect to the shaft for effectingreciprocatory movement of the pistons, a reservoir from which oil flowsby gravity into the compressor, an oil bath into which the actuator is.adapted to dip during its rotation, and means for causing oil sprayfrom the actuator to be introduced into the reservoir.

3. ln a fluid compressor, comprising stationary and rotatable membershaving intake and discharge passages, and means for subjecting externalparts of said members to a spray of oil,'the. intake passage extendingradially through one of the rotatable mem- 'bers whereby centrifugalforce will effect a separation of the oil from the fluid beingccmpressed.

1l. ln a compressor, a pair of members relatively rotatable with respectto each other, one of said members comprising a shaft and the othercomprising a cylinder structure, a piston disposed in said cylinderstructure, and means for edecting reciprocation of said piston only asthe speed of rotation between said members is increased above a givenvalue.

5. lln a compressor, a pair of members relatively rotatable with respectto each other, one of said members comprising a shaft and the othercomprising a cylinder structure, a piston disposed' in said cylinderstructure, means for reciprocating said piston upon relative rotationbetween said members,and mea-ns for rendering said first named meansinoperative for reciprocating the piston during initial startingmovement between said members.

6. lln a compressor, a pair of relatively rotatable members, one ofwhich constitutes a stationary shaft and the other of which constitutesa cylinder structure movable about thev shaft, a piston cooperating withsald structure'and rotatable therewith, means for. reciprocating saidpiston with respect to sald Leeleee of momentum by the piston fox'xenern said pismm inoperative to com ress the Hui 9 whereby the Workperformed.

seid pistou s kept negligible during the inltiel starting 5 movementthereof. i

n testimony whereof, have hereunto set my bami.,

ARTHUR J. Klemme@

